my next stop

Nepal

Chitwan National Park (Sauraha)

Rhino and tiger jungle along the Rapti River, with canoe trips and jeep safaris

Wildlife

Best time to visit Chitwan National Park (Sauraha)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: October to March
  • Shoulder: April to May and September, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: June to August

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryMarchOctoberNovemberDecember

Chitwan National Park (Sauraha) season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Cool foggy mornings that clear to sunny days; in Jan and Feb the grass is cut, views open up and rhino sightings rise.

Summer March to May Prime time

Mar is still good; Apr and May climb past 35°C, but the grass is short and animals gather near the water.

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

Heavy rain floods the Rapti, jungle walks and many jeep routes close, and leeches are out from Jun to Aug.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Fresh after the rains, with green jungle and clear skies; the elephant grass is tall, so canoe rides work best.

What Chitwan National Park (Sauraha) is actually like

Riverside resorts, Tharu villages, sunset tea on the Rapti bank and Indian families on 2 night safari packages.

Things to do in Chitwan National Park

The local places worth your time in and around Chitwan National Park, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Rapti River

    River · 1 km out

    Dugout canoe trips drift past mugger crocodiles and kingfishers at dawn; sunset tea on the Sauraha bank.

  • Tharu Cultural Museum

    Museum · 1 km out

    Small museum of Tharu masks, murals and farm tools; evening Tharu stick dances run in Sauraha nearby.

  • Elephant Breeding Center

    Wildlife · 4 km out

    Government centre at Khorsor where elephant calves are raised, a short ride from Sauraha; go in the morning.

  • Bis Hajari Tal

    Lake · 10 km out

    Twenty Thousand Lakes, a wetland of ponds and sal forest in the buffer zone, very good for birding.

  • Kasara

    Wildlife · 17 km out

    Park headquarters on the western side with the gharial crocodile breeding centre and a small museum.

  • Devghat

    Temple · 19 km out

    Sacred confluence of the Kali Gandaki and Trishuli with ashrams and temples, and a big Makar Sankranti fair.

Getting to Chitwan National Park (Sauraha)

Bharatpur airport is about 15 km; from the Birgunj/Raxaul border about 4 h by road, Kathmandu 5 to 6 h by bus.

Practical ways in: flightroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Mid-range
How busy
Busy at its peak
Solo travel
Easy solo
Altitude
186 m
Country
Nepal
Coordinates
27.5802, 84.5023

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Chitwan National Park (Sauraha)?

October to March is peak season in Chitwan National Park (Sauraha). April to May and September is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid June to August. Fresh after the rains, with green jungle and clear skies; the elephant grass is tall, so canoe rides work best.

How many days do you need in Chitwan National Park (Sauraha)?

2 days is the usual stay. Riverside resorts, Tharu villages, sunset tea on the Rapti bank and Indian families on 2 night safari packages.

How do you get to Chitwan National Park (Sauraha)?

Bharatpur airport is about 15 km; from the Birgunj/Raxaul border about 4 h by road, Kathmandu 5 to 6 h by bus. Practical ways in: flight and road.

Is Chitwan National Park (Sauraha) expensive, and does it get crowded?

Mid-range by Indian travel standards, and it runs busy at the busiest time of year. Easy solo.

What are the best things to do in Chitwan National Park?

Rapti River, Tharu Cultural Museum, Elephant Breeding Center, Bis Hajari Tal, Kasara and Devghat. Dugout canoe trips drift past mugger crocodiles and kingfishers at dawn; sunset tea on the Sauraha bank.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Nepal

All 24 destinations in Nepal